The Blue Devils seem to be healthy again for their rivalry showdown with North Carolina.
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The Duke basketball team might be back to full strength when they face North Carolina on Saturday night (6:30 p.m. ET, ESPN).
Blue Devil head coach Jon Scheyer has been quiet about the likelihood of center Maliq Brown returning for the major rivalry game on the calendar, but the team’s social media accounts may have revealed his condition.
Duke shared photos from their Friday practice on social media, and Brown was seen in drills playing defense in what seemed to be a contact aspect of their training.
During his media appearance on Thursday, Jon Scheyer stated that Brown practiced on Wednesday but just completed non-contact exercises.
“Make a determination based on how he’s feeling Saturday if there’s a real chance [if he could play] or not,” Scheyer told ESPN.
Brown has not played since sustaining a knee sprain early in the team’s victory against Notre Dame, missing the last four games, but he offered an update on his recovery process during warmups on Monday before the Blue Devils faced NC State.
The Syracuse transfer may not have the finest stats (2.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, 1.5 assists, and 1.5 steals per game), but his flexibility and defensive abilities have been dearly missed by Duke.
In Maliq Brown’s absence, the Blue Devils have given starting freshman center Khaman Maluach more minutes, while rookie forward Patrick Ngongba II has emerged as a crucial component of the program.
Mason Gillis, a graduate student, has also played center in the past four games.
North Carolina has not had a strong frontcourt this season and is suffering with an injury of its own. 6-foot-10 center Jalen Washington was hurt in the Heels’ overtime victory over Boston College on Saturday and did not participate in their loss to Pittsburgh.
Hubert Davis informed reporters that Washington was scheduled to practice on Thursday but did not disclose any injury information.
Kon Knueppel breaks Cooper Flagg’s record with a career night in Duke’s basketball victory over Miami.
Durham — Miami interim coach Bill Courtney used three timeouts in the first half against Duke basketball, including two in a minute of play.
The stoppages did not stem the bleeding, as Kon Knueppel and the third-ranked Blue Devils turned on an offensive masterclass, defeating the Hurricanes 89-54 on Tuesday night at Cameron Indoor Stadium.
Knueppel scored 18 of his career-high 25 points in the Blue Devils’ (15-2, 7-0 ACC) 50-point first half, which included 16 three-pointers and 24 assists on 33 baskets against the Hurricanes (4-13, 0-6). Khaman Maluach scored 12 points and grabbed 15 rebounds for his second consecutive double-double. Cooper Flagg tallied 13 points, seven rebounds, and six assists. Mason Gillis scored 12 points off the bench to round out the four Blue Devils in double figures.
Duke returns to the road this weekend, visiting Boston College (9-8, 1-5) on Saturday (8 p.m., ACC Network) before a week off. Here are some takeaways from the Blue Devils’ blowout of Miami.
Duke freshman Kon Knueppel has not scored 20 points since the Blue Devils’ season-opening victory over Maine. Knueppel almost scored 20 points in the first half against Miami, scoring 11 of them in the opening seven minutes. He hit four three-pointers in the first half and scored 18 points on his first eight attempts. Knueppel has hit 15 of 30 3-point attempts (50%) in four January games.
Cooper Flagg’s encore included a high number of assists and mistakes after scoring an ACC rookie record 42 points against Notre Dame. Flagg had six assists in the first half but finished with five turnovers, a season high. Still, the 6-foot-9 rookie has 18 assists in the last three games, demonstrating that he is more than just a scorer.
Duke coach Jon Scheyer anticipates Maliq Brown will be sidelined for an extended length of time due to a knee injury, so the Blue Devils will rely on their other bench players to fill in. With Brown warming up on the bench, Purdue transfer Mason Gillis contributed nine points and two assists in the first half. Gillis nailed all three of his 3-point shots and assisted on two consecutive plays. Duke held a 34-8 lead in bench points.
Duke basketball freshman’s brother receives first offer and starts D1 journey.
Family legacies are prevalent in the world of NCAA basketball, and the most recent one comes from the family of a freshman superstar at Duke.
With his first D1 basketball offer this week, the younger brother of Duke Basketball’s rising star has officially begun his own Division I journey. For the young prodigy, who has long been inspired by his sibling’s achievements, this milestone marks the start of what may be a promising career.
The Offer That Puts Everything in Motion
[School Name] recognizes the younger brother’s basketball talent with this offer. Even though he does not have the same amount of national fame as his elder sister, he has shown a wide range of talents and a high basketball IQ in high school competitions. Scouts have been pleased by his leadership talents, which are comparable to those of his elder brother, as well as his defensive reflexes and ability to score at all levels.
A Household of Hoopers
Basketball clearly runs in the family. In his first season, the Duke freshman has already made a mark, earning praise for his elegance, court vision, and game-changing ability. His younger brother has spent countless hours training with him, following in his footsteps and drawing inspiration from his achievements. The two share a close bond, and the Duke freshman often serves as a mentor and role model.
The younger brother’s initial offer reflects the family’s unwavering devotion to the sport as well as his diligence and hard work. Without a question, his upbringing in a competitive atmosphere has honed his abilities and equipped him for the demands of playing collegiately
What Comes Next?
Even while the initial offer is a big step, the younger brother’s journey is probably only getting started. More schools are anticipated to notice his skills as he develops and becomes more well-known. The course of his recruiting will be greatly influenced by how well he does in the forthcoming competitions and during his high school career.
The family is enjoying the occasion for the time being. “The journey starts now—can’t wait to see what’s next for you!” the Duke freshman said on social media, expressing his joy and pleasure in his younger brother’s accomplishment.
One thing is certain as the younger brother enters Division I basketball for the first time: the basketball heritage of the family is just getting started. He has the ability to follow in his sibling’s footsteps and establish himself at the greatest level if he works hard and is determined.
The top-ranked Duke basketball target falls out of the #1 slot.
All three of the recipients of the 2026 Duke basketball offer are still in the top 10.
Brandon McCoy Jr., a 6-foot-4, 170-pound junior guard, was ranked first overall in the 2026 class by On3 and the 247Sports 2026 Composite when he visited the Duke basketball team in early November from St. John Bosco High School (Calif.).
In the composite standings, he remains at the top.
However, McCoy dropped two spots to No. 3 in the On3 rankings this week, so that might soon change. Tyran Stokes, a five-star forward from Notre Dame High School (Calif.), rose to the top, while Christian Collins, a teammate from St. John Bosco, vaulted to No. 2.
To be fair to Brandon McCoy Jr., who has been sidelined for more than a month due to injury, he was offered by Duke basketball head coach Jon Scheyer in July and has since drawn Blue Devil coaches to his school.
Scheyer and his team are still in the running for the other two high school juniors who received offers from Durham: Jordan Smith Jr., a five-star guard from Paul VI Catholic High School (Va.), and Miikka Muurinen, a five-star forward from Compass Prep (Ariz.).
Muurinen is ranked seventh in the cycle based on the most recent On3 report. Additionally, Smith is ranked No. 8 overall and visited the Blue Devils the same weekend as McCoy.
Duke basketball, the presumptive number one seed in the NCAA Tournament, is treading carefully.
Duke basketball is on track for a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament, but even one misstep could jeopardize its position
The Blue Devils, now 12-2 overall and 4-0 in the ACC following an 89-62 win over SMU on Saturday, remain ranked No. 4 in the latest AP Poll. ESPN’s Joe Lunardi also projects Duke as a No. 1 seed in his Bracketology, alongside Auburn, Tennessee, and Iowa State—the same top four teams in the AP rankings for three consecutive weeks.
Duke’s case for a No. 1 seed is strong. The team is 4-2 in Quadrant 1 games and has not lost outside that category. Additionally, Duke ranks No. 2 overall at KenPom, boasting the ninth-best offensive efficiency and the third-best defensive efficiency. Only Iowa State shares the distinction of being in the top 10 in both categories.
However, the Blue Devils face a unique challenge. While their dominance warrants their spot on the top seed line, the competition in the ACC pales in comparison to other powerhouse conferences like the SEC and Big 12. These leagues, which are projected to send more teams to the NCAA Tournament, provide more Quadrant 1 opportunities, allowing teams to absorb losses without significant damage to their seeding.
In contrast, Duke’s ACC competition is weaker. The next highest ACC team in Lunardi’s predictions is Pittsburgh as a No. 6 seed, with Clemson as a No. 7 and SMU and North Carolina barely making the field. Meanwhile, the SEC is projected to send 12 teams, the Big Ten 11, and the Big 12 eight. This disparity leaves Duke with only four remaining Quadrant 1 games on its schedule, while 10 of its final 17 matchups are against Quadrant 3 or 4 opponents.
A single slip-up against a lower-tier ACC team could knock Duke off the No. 1 seed line, possibly even jeopardizing a No. 2 seed if multiple losses occur. While the Blue Devils have cruised through the ACC thus far, winning by an average margin of 21.8 points, the margin for error is razor-thin.
To secure a No. 1 seed, Duke likely needs to finish no worse than 18-2 in ACC play and win the conference tournament. While this is achievable given their current form, the team must maintain its focus and consistency to navigate the tightrope of their remaining schedule and maintain their place atop the NCAA Tournament projections.
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